Johnstown Boys team playing some good hoops!!!
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THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
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- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
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Johnstown Boys team playing some good hoops!!!
Johnstown boys rally to knock off Altoona !!!!!!
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT:
Greater Johnstown's boys basketball team appeared to be in big trouble Thursday night against rival Altoona Area.
The Mountain Lions scored the game's first nine points, led 14-2 midway through the first quarter and pushed the margin to 25-8 with 5:06 remaining in the first half.
Then suddenly, the undefeated Trojans clicked in a dramatic 59-42 comeback victory.
Shots that wouldn't fall early hit the net.
Johnstown ruled the offensive boards and won the individual battles.
It started innocently enough, with the Trojans scoring the final five points of the opening half.
The momentum swing reached a crescendo as Johnstown hit the first 17 points of the second half to lead 37-27. The Trojans limited Altoona to two late free throws and only one third-quarter field goal with 40 seconds left.
"Once we got a little bit of momentum, our kids got their heads back," Johnstown coach John Fuschino said of his 5-0 Trojans. "We lost composure early in the first half. We regained our composure right before halftime, then we came out and made some key shots. Confidence was a big key for us."
Altoona (4-3) led 9-0 after Denwood Howard's basket at 5:19 of the first quarter. The Lions went up by 12 points on a Brian Forney bucket two minutes later and made it a 17-point advantage on a Forney trey 5:06 before halftime.
"We knew that our shots were going to start falling," said junior Derek Rose, who scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds. "We just came out and played hard on defense and offense. We knew sooner or later that they were going to fall down."
Kurt Hoffman had 13 points, and Xavier Thomas, 11, for the Trojans. Reserve Steven Lee made three key 3-pointers during the comeback in the second and third quarters. Johnstown had a 23-4 third-quarter advantage.
Johnstown's aggressive defense made the difference.
"We stayed in the man-to-man," Fuschino said. "The first half we toyed with a 2-3 zone. Altoona is too good of a team to zone. They worked for open shots and were making their shots. I think we wore them down a little bit in the second half and they were coming up a little short."
David Thompson led Altoona with 14 points, eight in the first half.
"All athletics come down to a few things," Lions coach Kraig Hetz said. "Mental toughness, physical toughness, playing as a group, being able to handle adversity and overcome it. This wasn't a game of X's and O's. It was a game of those other things in my opinion.
"When things are going good, anybody can play. Things start getting a little bit tough, you've got to be willing to stick your nose in it. We didn't do it. Johnstown did. Give them credit. They rebounded the ball offensively. They were tougher than us."
"THE CHOPS".
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT:
Greater Johnstown's boys basketball team appeared to be in big trouble Thursday night against rival Altoona Area.
The Mountain Lions scored the game's first nine points, led 14-2 midway through the first quarter and pushed the margin to 25-8 with 5:06 remaining in the first half.
Then suddenly, the undefeated Trojans clicked in a dramatic 59-42 comeback victory.
Shots that wouldn't fall early hit the net.
Johnstown ruled the offensive boards and won the individual battles.
It started innocently enough, with the Trojans scoring the final five points of the opening half.
The momentum swing reached a crescendo as Johnstown hit the first 17 points of the second half to lead 37-27. The Trojans limited Altoona to two late free throws and only one third-quarter field goal with 40 seconds left.
"Once we got a little bit of momentum, our kids got their heads back," Johnstown coach John Fuschino said of his 5-0 Trojans. "We lost composure early in the first half. We regained our composure right before halftime, then we came out and made some key shots. Confidence was a big key for us."
Altoona (4-3) led 9-0 after Denwood Howard's basket at 5:19 of the first quarter. The Lions went up by 12 points on a Brian Forney bucket two minutes later and made it a 17-point advantage on a Forney trey 5:06 before halftime.
"We knew that our shots were going to start falling," said junior Derek Rose, who scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds. "We just came out and played hard on defense and offense. We knew sooner or later that they were going to fall down."
Kurt Hoffman had 13 points, and Xavier Thomas, 11, for the Trojans. Reserve Steven Lee made three key 3-pointers during the comeback in the second and third quarters. Johnstown had a 23-4 third-quarter advantage.
Johnstown's aggressive defense made the difference.
"We stayed in the man-to-man," Fuschino said. "The first half we toyed with a 2-3 zone. Altoona is too good of a team to zone. They worked for open shots and were making their shots. I think we wore them down a little bit in the second half and they were coming up a little short."
David Thompson led Altoona with 14 points, eight in the first half.
"All athletics come down to a few things," Lions coach Kraig Hetz said. "Mental toughness, physical toughness, playing as a group, being able to handle adversity and overcome it. This wasn't a game of X's and O's. It was a game of those other things in my opinion.
"When things are going good, anybody can play. Things start getting a little bit tough, you've got to be willing to stick your nose in it. We didn't do it. Johnstown did. Give them credit. They rebounded the ball offensively. They were tougher than us."
"THE CHOPS".
Re: Johnstown Boys team playing some good hoops!!!
I didnt think fuschinos style of play would fit the style of johnstowns known running offense, but with a great comeback win against Altoona it is Proven that Fuschino is a good fit for the johnstown program
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
Re: Johnstown Boys team playing some good hoops!!!
Posterboy,
You are right. I know Coach John F. pretty darn well, & if he can't get it done at J-Town, no one will. He knows how to win & he's been at the "Big- Dance" too. Back in "1987" His team The Windber Ramblers team made it to the "Big Dance" in Hershey.
I wish him well.
"THE CHOPS".
You are right. I know Coach John F. pretty darn well, & if he can't get it done at J-Town, no one will. He knows how to win & he's been at the "Big- Dance" too. Back in "1987" His team The Windber Ramblers team made it to the "Big Dance" in Hershey.
I wish him well.
"THE CHOPS".
Re: Johnstown Boys team playing some good hoops!!!
Its good to see Johnstown Staying on a winning page, good luck to Fuschino & the Gang